On-Track Aviation

UK | EASA | Multi-Engine Piston (MEP) Class Rating

	DA42 Twin Star (right) is becoming more popular for MEP Class Rating
PA34 Seneca (above) is used by many flying schools when training their students for the MEP Class Rating		PA44 Seminole (left) is another popular training aeroplane used for the MEP Class Rating

General

Courses are avialble to EASA and UK licence holders

The course includes flight and theoretical knowledge training. On completion of the training the applicant shall complete a theoretical knowledge examination and skill test. To accompany the On-Track Aviation course there are aeroplane technical notes and a checklist

Pre-Course Entry Requirements

An applicant for a first class rating on a single pilot multi-engine aeroplane shall have completed at least 70 hours as PIC on aeroplanes

Flight Training

The flight training course for a single pilot multi-engine class rating shall include:

(a) at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of dual flight instruction under normal conditions of multi-engine aeroplane operations

(b) not less than 3 hours 30 minutes of dual flight instruction in engine failure procedures and asymmetric flight techniques

Theoretical Knowledge Training

The theoretical knowledge training for a single pilot multi-engine class rating shall include at least 7 hours of instruction in multi-engine aeroplane operations

The syllabus of theoretical knowledge should cover the following:
# Detailed listing for aeroplane structure and equipment, normal operation of systems and malfunctions
# Limitations
# Performance, flight planning and monitoring
# Load and balance and servicing
# Emergency procedures
# Special requirements for glass cockpit aeroplanes with EFIS (if applicable)
# Flight management systems (if applicable)

Theoretical Knowledge Examination

Pass a written examination consisting of 50 multiple choice questions covering aspects of multi-engine operations and aircraft type specific limitations. The pass mark is 75%

(UK CAA and EASA) Skill Test / Proficiency Check (see note)

The applicant shall pass the skill test within a period of 6 months after commencement of the class or type rating training course and within a period of 6 months preceding the application for the issue of the class rating

Before a skill test for the issue of the rating is taken, the applicant shall have passed the required theoretical knowledge examination

The applicant for a skill test shall be recommended for the test by the organisation responsible for the training, once all the training is completed. The training records shall be made available to the examiner

Note: For renewal or revalidation it is referred to as a proficiency check

The UK CAA and EASA skill test / proficiency check schedule is given below:

Section 1 Departure
Pre-flight including: Documentation, NOTAM, Mass and Balance, Weather briefing
Pre-start checks: External and Internal
Engine Starting: Normal and Malfunctions
Taxiing
Pre-departure checks: Engine run-up (if applicable)
Take-off procedure: Normal with Flight Manual flap settings, Crosswind (if conditions available)
Climbing: Vx / Vy, Turns onto headings, Level off
ATC liaison - Compliance, R/T procedure

Section 2 Airwork (VMC)
Straight and level flight at various airspeeds including flight at critically low airspeed with and without flaps (including approach to Vmca when applicable)
Steep turns: 360º left and right at 45º bank
Stalls and recovery:
(i) Clean stall
(ii) Approach to stall in descending turn with bank with approach configuration and power
(iii) Approach to stall in landing configuration and power
(iv) Approach to stall, climbing turn with take-off flap and climb power (SE only)
Handling using autopilot and flight director (may be conducted in Section 3) (if applicable)
ATC liaison - Compliance, R/T procedure

Section 3A En-Route Procedures (VFR)
(Section 3A shall be completed to revalidate a type or multi-engine class rating, VFR only, where the required experience of 10 route sectors within the previous 12 months has not been completed. Section 3A is not required if section 3B is completed)

Flight plan, dead reckoning and map reading
Maintenance of altitude, heading and speed
Orientation, timing and revision of ETAs
Use of radio navigation aids (if applicable)
Flight management (flight log, routine checks including fuel, systems and icing)
ATC liaison - Compliance, R/T procedure

Section 3B Instrument Flight
(This section is only required if IR privileges are to be revalidated/renewed)

Departure IFR
En-route IFR
Holding procedures
ILS to DH(A) of 200 ft (60m) or to procedure minima (autopilot may be used to glideslope intercept)
Non-precision approach to MDH(A) and map
Flight exercises including: Simulated failure of the compass and attitude indicator, Rate 1 turns, Recoveries from unusual attitudes
Failure of localiser or glideslope
ATC liaison - Compliance, R/T procedure

Section 4 Arrival and Landings
Aerodrome arrival procedure
Normal landing
Flapless landing
Crosswind landing (if suitable conditions)
Approach and landing with idle power from up to 2000 ft above the runway (SE only)
Go-around from minimum height
Night go-around and landing (if applicable)
ATC liaison - Compliance, R/T procedure

Section 5 Abnormal and Emergency Procedures
(This section may be combined with sections 1 through 4)

Rejected take-off at a reasonable speed
Simulated engine failure after take-off (SE only)
Simulated forced landing without power (SE only)
Simulated emergencies: Fire or smoke in flight, System’s malfunctions as appropriate
Engine shutdown and restart at a safe altitude if performed in an aeroplane (ME only)
ATC liaison - Compliance, R/T procedure

Section 6 Simulated Asymmetric Flight
(This section may be combined with sections 1 through 5)

Simulated engine failure during take-off (at a safe altitude unless carried out in FFS or FNPT II)
Asymmetric approach and go-around
Asymmetric approach and full stop landing
ATC liaison - Compliance, R/T procedure

Privileges

The privileges of the holder of a class or type rating are to act as pilot on the class or type of aircraft specified in the rating e.g. MEP (land)

Validity

12 months

(UK CAA and EASA) FCL.740.A Revalidation of class and type ratings - aeroplanes

(a) Revalidation of multi-engine class ratings and type ratings. For revalidation of multi-engine class ratings and type ratings, the applicant shall:

(1)   pass a proficiency check in accordance with Part FCL Appendix 9 to this Annex, or complete EBT practical assessment in accordance with Part FCL Appendix 10 to this Annex, in the relevant class or type of aeroplane or an FSTD representing that class or type, within the 3 months immediately preceding the expiry date of the rating; and

(2)  complete during the period of validity of the rating, at least:

(i)  10 route sectors as pilot of the relevant class or type of aeroplane; or

(ii)  1 route sector as pilot of the relevant class or type of aeroplane or FFS, flown with an examiner. This route sector may be flown during the proficiency check.

(3)  A pilot working for a commercial air transport operator approved in accordance with the applicable air operations requirements who has passed the operators proficiency check combined with the proficiency check for the revalidation of the class or type rating shall be exempted from complying with the requirement in (2).

(4)  The revalidation of a EIR (UK CAA), BIR (EASA) or an IR(A), if held, may be combined with a proficiency check for the revalidation of a class or type rating

UK CAA Renewal (FCL.740 Validity and renewal of class and type ratings)

(b) Renewal

For the renewal of a class or type rating, applicants shall comply with all of the following:

(1)  in order to determine whether refresher training is necessary for the applicant to reach the level of proficiency to safely operate the aircraft, they shall undergo an assessment at one of the following:

(i)  at an ATO

(ii)  at a DTO or at an ATO, if the expired rating concerned a non-high-performance single-engine piston class rating, a TMG class rating or a single-engine type rating for helicopters referred to in point DTO.GEN.110(a)(2)(c) of Airecrew Regulation Annex VIII

(iii)  at a DTO, at an ATO or with an instructor, if the rating expired no more than 3 years ago and the rating concerned a non-high-performance single-engine piston class rating or a TMG class rating

(iv)  at an EBT operator that is specifically approved for such refresher training

(2)  if deemed necessary by the organisation or the instructor providing the assessment in accordance with point (1), they shall complete refresher training at that organisation or with that instructor

(3)  after complying with point (1) and, as applicable, point (2), they shall pass a proficiency check in accordance with Part FCL Appendix 9 to this Annex or complete EBT practical assessment in accordance with Part FCL Appendix 10 to this Annex. That EBT practical assessment may be combined with the refresher training specified in point (2). By way of derogation from points (b)(1), (b)(2) and (b)(3), pilots holding a flight test rating issued in accordance with point FCL.820 who were involved in the development, certification or production flight tests for an aircraft type and have completed either 50 hours of total flight time or 10 hours of flight time as PIC in test flights in that type during the year prior to the date of their application, shall be entitled to apply for the revalidation or renewal of the relevant type rating. Applicants shall be exempted from the requirement in points (b)(1) and (b)(2) if they hold, and are entitled to exercise the privileges of, a valid rating for the same class or type of aircraft on a pilot licence issued by a third country in accordance with Annex 1 to the Chicago Convention

(c) Pilots who leave an operator’s EBT programme after having failed to demonstrate an acceptable level of competence in accordance with that EBT programme shall not exercise the privileges of that type rating until they have complied with one of the following:

(1) they have completed EBT practical assessment in accordance with Part FCL Appendix 10 to this Annex or

(2) they have passed a proficiency check in accordance with point FCL.625(c)(3) or point FCL.740(b)(3), as applicable. In such a case, point FCL.625(b)(4) and point FCL.740(a)(2) shall not apply

Notes:
'Evidence-Based Training (EBT) practical assessment' means a method for assessing performance that serves to verify the integrated performance of competencies and takes place in either a simulated or an operational environment

'Evidence-Based Training (EBT) operator' means an organisation that is holding an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) in accordance with Annex III (Part-ORO) to Regulation 965/2012 and that has implemented an EBT programme approved by the UK CAA, in accordance with the provisions of that Regulation

'Evidence-Based Training (EBT) programme' means a pilot assessment and training programme in accordance with point ORO.FC.231 (evidence-based training) of Annex III (Part-ORO) to Regulation 965/2012

EASA Renewal (FCL.740 Validity and renewal of class and type ratings)

(b) Renewal

For the renewal of a class or type rating, applicants shall comply with all of the following:

(1) in order to determine whether refresher training is necessary for the applicant to reach the level of proficiency to safely operate the aircraft, they shall undergo an assessment at one of the following:

(i) at an ATO

(ii) at a DTO or at an ATO, if the expired rating concerned a non-high-performance SEP aeroplane class rating, a TMG class rating or a single-engine type rating for helicopters referred to in point DTO.GEN.110(a)(2)(c) of Aircrew Regulation Annex VIII

(iii) at a DTO, at an ATO or with an instructor, if the rating expired no more than 3 years ago and the rating concerned a non-high-performance SEP aeroplane class rating or a TMG class rating

(iv) at an EBT operator that is specifically approved for such refresher training;

(2) if deemed necessary by the organisation or the instructor providing the assessment as per point (1), they shall complete refresher training at that organisation or with that instructor

(3) after complying with point (1) and, as applicable, point (2), they shall pass a proficiency check in accordance with Part FCL Appendix 9 or complete EBT practical assessment in accordance with Part FCL Appendix 10. That EBT practical assessment may be combined with the refresher training specified in point (2)

By way of derogation from points (b)(1), (b)(2) and (b)(3), pilots holding a flight test rating issued in accordance with point FCL.820 who were involved in the development, certification or production flight tests for an aircraft type and have completed either 50 hours of total flight time or 10 hours of flight time as PIC in test flights in that type during the year prior to the date of their application, shall be entitled to apply for the revalidation or renewal of the relevant type rating

Applicants shall be exempted from the requirement in points (b)(1) and (b)(2) if they hold a valid rating for the same class or type of aircraft on a pilot licence issued by a third country in accordance with Annex 1 to the Chicago Convention and if they are entitled to exercise the privileges of that rating

(1) they have completed EBT practical assessment in accordance with Part FCL Appendix 10

(2) they have passed a proficiency check in accordance with point FCL.625(c)(3) or point FCL.740(b)(3), as applicable. In such a case, point FCL.625(b)(4) and point FCL.740(a)(2) shall not apply

Notes:
1. A route sector is defined as a flight comprising take-off, departure, cruise of not less than 15 minutes, arrival, approach and landing
2. The renewal/revalidation of an EIR (UK CAA), BIR (EASA) or an IR(A), if held, may be combined with a proficiency check for the renewal of a class or type rating
3. 'Evidence-Based Training (EBT) practical assessment' means a method for assessing performance that serves to verify the integrated performance of competencies and takes place in either a simulated or an operational environment
4. 'Evidence-Based Training (EBT) operator' means an organisation that is holding an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) in accordance with Annex III (Part-ORO) to Regulation 965/2012 and that has implemented an EBT programme approved by the competent authority, in accordance with the provisions of that Regulation
5. 'Evidence-Based Training (EBT) programme' means a pilot assessment and training programme in accordance with point ORO.FC.231 (evidence-based training) of Annex III (Part-ORO) to Regulation 965/2012

References

Pre-Flight Briefing Manual Multi-Engine Course by Mike Woodgate
Flying Training Multi-Engine Manual by R D Campbell
The Commercial Pilot's Study Manual Series By Mike Burton (Volume 2 only)
On-Track Aviation Limited Multi-Engine Student Notes
UK CAA Standards Document 14A
UK CAA CAP 804
UK CAA CAA Communication - Safety Directive, Safety Notice, Information Notice, Skywise, AIC
Part FCL, AMC and GM